March 5, 2003

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Senior Brad Bauder's two-run home run capped a four-run, ninth-inning rally as Virginia Tech handed Charleston Southern an 8-6 loss at Buccaneer Field on Wednesday.

The win was the second of the day for Tech, which held on for a 5-4 decision over CSU in the completion of a suspended game that began on Tuesday and was halted after seven innings because of darkness. The victories improved the Hokies' record to 5-1 as they prepare to open a nine-game home stand.

Tech trailed 6-4 heading into the top of the ninth inning of its regularly-scheduled Wednesday game. Sophomore David McDonald (Phoenix, Ariz.) got the Hokies started on the comeback trail with a pinch-hit single. Freshman right fielder Joel Miller (Dumfries, Va.) reached base on a Charleston Southern error that allowed him and McDonald to advance to second and third base, respectively. After third baseman Chris Stanton (Centerville, Va.) grounded out to first base, senior second baseman Marc Tugwell (Springfield, Va.) lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring McDonald.

With two outs, sophomore designated hitter Wyatt Toregas (Ashburn, Va.) delivered a clutch double to right center field to tie the game at 6-6. Bauder (Ashburn, Va.), who led Tech in homers last season with 14, then deposited his first round-tripper of the 2003 season over the right field fence.

Tech started the game off with a bang, scoring three runs in the first inning, but managed just one additional run until its ninth-inning outburst. An RBI-single by catcher Jed English (Alexandria, Va.) and a two-run double by freshman left fielder Sheldon Adams (Big Stone Gap, Va.) provided the first inning runs. Toregas plated the other run with a ground out in the fifth to give Tech a 4-1 lead

Charleston Southern (3-11) tied the game with two runs in the sixth inning and one in the seventh. The Bucs then took the lead on a two-run single by first baseman Adrian Vanderburg in the eighth.

Freshman Scott Stoehr (Timberville, Va.), the third of four Tech pitchers, got the victory despite pitching just two-thirds of an inning. Senior Matt Dalton pitched the ninth to get his third save of the season and second of the day.

English led the Hokies' 12-hit attack with three hits in five at bats. Tugwell, Toregas and Bauder finished with two hits each. Charleston Southern finished with 13 hits, including four by right fielder Brandon Massey.

Neither team scored in the final two innings of the suspended game played on Wednesday. Freshman Nicky Bowers (Stuart, Va) and Dalton each pitched a scoreless inning to preserve the victory for the Hokies. Freshman left-hander Andrew Wells (Alexandria, Va.), who worked two shutout innings of relief on Tuesday, was the winning pitcher.

Tech led the game 5-4 when it was suspended on Tuesday. The Hokies broke a 4-4 tie with a run in the sixth inning. Tugwell, Toregas and senior shortstop Spencer Harris (Louisa, Ky.) each had two hits in the game for the Hokies.

Tech is scheduled to open its home schedule on Friday with the first of three games against Kent State at English Field. The Hokies and Golden Flashes are slated to play at 2:30 p.m., on Friday and at 2 p.m.,, on both Saturday and Sunday.